Samirah Horton, a 16-year-old from Bedford-Stuyvesant, established the Banned Book Library at Nazarene Congregational United Church of Christ to promote reading and counteract censorship. Inspired by Toni Morrison's literature, which often faces bans, Horton emphasizes the church's freedom to operate independently in promoting knowledge. In 2024, the American Library Association reported numerous attempts to censor library materials. Horton's mother, Minister Sonya Horton, supported her daughter’s community initiative, highlighting the importance of engaging young people in learning and providing alternative spaces for literature access.
Samirah Horton expressed, "Churches have the freedom to operate the way they want more than other institutions. Knowledge is the one thing people can't take away from you."
In 2024, the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 821 attempts to censor library materials, which included 2,452 unique titles challenged.
Minister Sonya Horton stated, "I encouraged my daughter to give back to her community," reflecting a legacy of social justice and community engagement.
Samirah Horton, inspired by Toni Morrison, created the Banned Book Library to engage the community in reading, emphasizing the importance of knowledge and access to literature.
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